Pai Gow

Saturday, 04 April 2009 13:43

History

Pai Gow Poker originates from the ancient Chinese dominoes game of Pai Gow (which means to 'make nine'), and was invented by Fred Wolf in the early 1980s.

It wasn't long before the game found its way into the Las Vegas casinos, where it instantly became very successful and has remained a firm favourite with players ever since.

It is easy to play, so it is no surprise that it has also transferred well to the world of online gambling.

The Basics

Pai Gow Poker is played with a standard deck of 52 cards and one Joker. Each player is dealt a total of seven cards and the idea is to make two hands with those seven cards – one standard five-card poker hand and a two-card hand.

The player's stake is divided between the two-card hand ('up front') and the five-card hand ('behind'), and the idea is to attempt to beat both of the hands the dealer will be making with his seven cards. Successfully doing so will see the player win both pots. The five-card hand adheres to the same ranking criteria as you'd find in any game of poker, with one exception – it is possible to make 'Five of a Kind' using the Joker, which ranks higher than a Royal Flush.

The two-card hand is ranked by Pairs first, followed by high cards. The best possible two-card hand is a Pair of Aces and the worst possible two-card hand is 3-2.

In Pai Gow Poker the Joker can be used to complete either a Straight or a Flush in the five-card hand. At all other times it is considered to be an Ace.

To offset the advantage the player has by being able to use a degree of leeway in their strategy – unlike the dealer who has to play his cards according to set criteria (the 'House Way') – they are charged a 5% commission if they win both hands. For example, by betting £1 and winning both hands a player would realise a return of £1.95. This commission only applies, though, if a player wins BOTH hands.

The only restriction players have on their hands is that they cannot place a stronger hand 'up front' than 'behind'. In other words, the two-card hand can’t be stronger than the five-card hand.

Key Strategy

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The ultimate aim in any hand of Pai Gow is to try and win both hands – the five-card hand behind and the two-card hand up front. If you do so then you win all of the pot, minus the 5% commission. If you don't feel you can win both hands then you should try to make sure that you win at least one of them and break even with the dealer. An ability to judge when it is best to go for both hands or to settle for winning just one will be key to your success in Pai Gow Poker.

Here is a brief breakdown of the kind of combinations of seven cards you may be dealt, and the accepted wisdom of what you should do with these hands:

Four Aces and the Joker: If you also have a high Pair, such as Kings or Queens, to go with these other five cards then you should play the high Pair up front and keep the five Aces behind. Otherwise you are recommended to keep three Aces in your five-card hand and play two Aces up front.

Four of a Kind and Three of a Kind: If you are fortunate enough to be dealt Four of a Kind and Three of a Kind then it is recommended that you split the Four of a Kind to send a Pair up front and keep a Full House behind. If the Four of a Kind is a very low number then it may be better to keep it as Four of a Kind and split the Three of a Kind to send that Pair into your two-card hand.

Four of a Kind and a Pair: Keep the Four of a Kind for your five-card hand and play the Pair up front.

Full House and a Pair: Play the highest Pair up front.

Full House: Play the Pair up front and keep Three of a Kind behind.

Straight or Flush: Use your Straight or Flush for the five-card hand while still playing the two highest possible cards up front.

Two Three of a Kinds: Keep the lowest Three of a Kind behind and place a Pair from the highest one up front.

Three of a Kind: Always play the Three of a Kind in your five-card hand unless you have three Aces, in which case it may be best to keep a pair of Aces and use the other Ace and the next highest card to make your two-card hand up front.

Three Pairs: It is recommended that you play the highest ranking Pair up front and keep the other two Pairs behind.

Two Pairs: If your Pair is between 2s-6s then split it and play the low Pair up front, unless you also have an Ace and a picture card, which you can then play up front and keep two Pairs in your five-card hand.

If you hold two medium Pairs (between 7s-10s) or a low Pair and a high Pair (Jacks or higher) then split them, unless you have an Ace to play up front.

If you hold two medium Pairs or two high Pairs then you should usually split them.

If you hold a pair of Aces and any other Pair then keep the Aces behind and place the other Pair up front.

One Pair: Keep the Pair behind for your five-card hand and place the next two highest cards up front.

No Pairs: This is the worst possible hand in Pai Gow Poker. All you can do is to keep your highest card for the back, place your next two highest cards up front and hope for the best!

The House Way

The dealer will always place his cards according to the criteria laid down in the 'House Way'. Players can also take advantage of this option by having their hands completed for them, using these same criteria. What you should always remember, though, is that the House Way is not a strategy designed to win both hands, but to keep down losses!

Five Aces: If the dealer has five Aces he will play three behind and place two up front.

Straight Flush: With two Pairs the dealer will ignore the Straight Flush and play according to the Two Pair rule below. With only one Pair the dealer will put forward the Pair only if it allows him to keep a Straight or a Flush in his five-card hand. In all other cases the dealer will keep the Straight Flush and place the other two cards up front.

Four of a Kind: The dealer will play a Pair up front and a Pair behind – unless there’s an additional Pair, in which case he will keep the Four of a Kind.

If the Four of a Kind is made up of 2s-6s, the dealer will keep the Four of a Kind behind and play the next two highest cards up front.

If it is made up of 7s-10s the dealer will split it, unless he can play at least a King up front.

If it's made up of Jacks-Kings the dealer will always split it, unless an Ace can be played up front.

With four Aces, the dealer will always split into two Pairs of Aces.

Full House: The dealer will always keep the Three of a Kind behind and place the Pair up front.

Flush and Straight: These hands follow the same rules as for a Straight Flush above.

Three of a Kind: The Three of a Kind will be kept in the five-card hand unless it is made up of three Aces, in which case a Pair of Aces will be kept behind and a hand of Ace-High will be played up front.

Two Pairs: The dealer will play the low Pair up front and keep the higher Pair behind – unless he has at least Ace-Jack to play up front, in which case he will keep both Pairs for the five-card hand.

One Pair: The dealer will keep the Pair behind and place the two highest cards up front.

High Card: The dealer will keep the highest card for the five-card hand and place the next two highest up front in the two-card hand.

Summary

You now know the criteria that the dealer always sticks to, so you can shape your hands to your own advantage and seize the opportunity to win both hands. Remember that your main aim is to try and win both hands, but if that's unlikely your second aim should be to make sure you win at least one of the hands and keep your stake!